Welcome to my blog. This blog is all about writing tips for writers and teachers of writing. Twice monthly, I will address one aspect of writing. I will also post tips about no-fee contests and calls for submissions by publishers.
If you would like to know more about me or my books, check out my website at www.nancykellyallen.com

Nancy's Books

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Write to entertain, to enchant, to comfort, to enjoy; but
not to preach. Write to inform, to teach, to inspire; but not in a didactic
way. Didactic means writing to teach a lesson or moral. Children can learn life
skills by reading about characters and their reactions to situation, but place
the entertainment value above the teaching value in fiction. The lesson learned
should be subtle. The purpose of a fictional picture is not to teach a lesson,
but to tell a story. Enchant a child’s imagination with interesting characters,
wordplay, strong plot, and humor.

Audience. Picture
books need to be written for a specific audience. “Children” is a broad concept
and the stories that interest different children vary with the age group. The
word choice and subject matter should be age appropriate for the target
audience. Consider the interest and ability of the child when creating a
character. Children want to read about characters that reflect their life
experiences. A two-year-old is interested in learning colors, while a
six-year-old enjoys stories about school or friendship. Play into the
reader’s imagination by taking into account the child’s experiences. The reader defines
the writing so before you write the first word, identify the audience.

NONFICTION:
We accept short articles of 300 words or less on
science and nature, as well as age-appropriate how-to projects.
Payment: $70 and up.

POETRY:
We accept poems 4-12 line poems. Please remember the
age of your audience. Payment: $35 and up.

RECIPES:
We accept simple, healthful recipes of 200 words or
less that generally require no cooking and minimal adult help.
If possible, include a photo of the recipe with submission.
Payment: $40 and up.

CRAFTS:
We accept fun crafts of 250 words or less that young
children can make with a bit of adult help. Payment: $40 and up.

One Teen Story is a literary magazine for young adult
readers of
every age. Each issue will feature one amazing short story about
the teen experience. If you love to write, we’re looking for one
great story. One Teen Story will consider original, unpublished
fiction written by teens ages 14-19. We are interested in great
fiction of any genre—literary, fantasy, sci-fi, love stories, and
horror. What’s in a great short story? Interesting characters, a
unique voice, and of course, a beginning, middle and end. The
winning story will be chosen by a best-selling novelist and
published in the May 2014 issue of One Teen Story. Contest winners
will receive $500, 25 copies of the magazine featuring their work,
and a 28” x 20” poster of the cover featuring their story. The
winner of the contest will also have the opportunity to edit his/her
story for publication with a One Teen Story editor. Honorable
mentions will be chosen in three age categories: 14-15, 16-17,
and 18-19-year-olds. To enter, you must be between the ages of
14 and 19 as of May 31, 2013. Short stories should be between
1,500 to 4,000 words and be the writer’s own original, unpublished
work.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Rhyme. Some
editors like rhyme; some love it; many shy away from it. All shy away if the
rhyme isn’t perfect in meter and beat. Honestly, I’m totally lost on writing
rhyming text so I don’t even attempt it. Instead, I choose to write rhythmic
prose. If you’re a natural at writing rhyme or have studied it, give it a try.
The rhyme should flow smoothly and as with prose, each line should further the
plot. Surprise and delight the reader with the word choice.

Strong, unique
concept. Every story plot has already been written, right? We’re not going to
stumble onto anything new in that department. But we should provide a new
twist, a surprise ending, something to make the story stand apart from others.
Otherwise, why publish something that’s already in the market. Integrate the
character’s emotional problem with a physical problem so when the character is
actively trying to work toward the physical goal, the emotional goal is being
met as well.

Call for submissions for adult writers:

Funny Times. Our print publication pokes fun at politics,
news, relationships,
food, technology, pets, work, death, environmental issues, business, and the human condition in general.
Not much is off limits, so do your best to make us laugh. We pay
upon publication, not acceptance, and the rates are $25-$40 per
cartoon based on reproduction size and $60 each for story. You’ll
even get a complimentary subscription to Funny Times and some
serious bragging rights. Limit 500-700 words.

Skipping Stones.Writings (essays, stories, letters to the editor, riddles and
proverbs, etc.) should be typed or neatly handwritten and limited to 750 words
and poems to 30 lines. We encourage writings in all languages with an English
translation, if possible. And, we love illustrations! Please send originals of
your drawings, paintings, or photos. Include your name, age, and address along
with your submission.

Tell us about yourself in a cover letter. What is your
cultural background? What languages do you speak or write? What is important to
you? What are your dreams and visions for the future? What inspired you to
write or create your submission? We might even print your letter!

If you would like a reply from us or your work returned, include
a self-addressed envelope with postage stamps. Submissions that do not include
SASE's will be recycled if we do not publish them. Allow three months for
our reply. When your work is published in Skipping Stones, you will receive a
contributor's copy of that issue.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Humor. Kids appreciate humor, and
the funny stuff pulls the reader into the story. Every sentence and paragraph
doesn’t have to create laughter. Sprinkle bits of humorous dialog or comical
action throughout the narrative; that’s enough to carry the scene. Notice how
comedians save the punch line for the end of the story. That effect works in
picture books, too. Remember, illustrations add another level of humor that
reflect the text and add more gist to the story.

Concrete writing. Concrete words evoke concrete images. Nothing throws
open the doors of imagination like the use of the senses to conjure vivid
mental pictures. Engage the senses—see, hear, touch, taste, and smell--with
specific details to hold a reader’s attention. Strong, literal word choices
allow the reader to experience the setting, action, and character as though
they are actually in the scene. Action verbs—punch, crawl, scream—offer mental
pictures. If you shut your eyes, you can mentally see a punch thrown, an animal
crawling, or a person screaming. How difficult is it to imagine these verbs:
is, are, was, were? Can’t see them? Neither can the reader. Action verbs create
movement and sound and reflect real life.

Call for submissions for adult writers:

The Greenhouse
Funny prize is open to un-agented writers writing funny fiction for children of
all ages. To get a good sense
of the voice and where the character is headed, we’d like to see the first
5,000 words PLUS a short description (a few lines) of the book AND a one page
outline that shows the spine of the plot. Please send this as a Word doc attachment. If you’re submitting a picture book (or shorter
fiction that comes in under 5,000 words), then send the complete text.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

This article is the first of a
series based on the basics of writing a picture book.

Some picture book manuscripts garner contracts. Many more do not. Let’s look at the bones of a picture book to see what makes the story work so successfully that an editor offers a deal.

Interesting character. The main
character should be likeable and identifiable, someone with which the reader
can identify. Kids enjoy reading (or being read to) about characters that
accomplish big acts. Allow the character to fix his/her own problem, whether
it’s handling the bully or getting in out of the storm. Children are small and
young, but they enjoy stories in which they succeed on their own. Good fiction
is all about the character. If the character doesn’t have a problem or goal,
you don’t have a story. Jim was happy. He was happy yesterday and he’s even
happier today. No problem. No goal. No story.

Universal appeal. Children enjoy
characters that face similar problems and situations as their own. When
creating a problem for the character, consider problems children face: moving,
losing a pet, fight with a friend or sibling, or changing schools. These are
just some issues children endure. Children can learn ways to cope by reading
about characters that deal with similar situations.

Next week, I’ll continue with the
article.

Call for submissions for adult writers:

Appleseeds
Magazine

"We're
looking for new, different, and interesting activities that kids will love to
do.

GREYstone, a subdivision of BRICKrhetoric, is now accepting
submissions
of poetry, artwork, flash fiction, photography and scientific art from
students {and teachers} K-12 for our quarterly online publication which
comes out in the months of February, May, August & November. Submissions
are accepted year-round, and submissions to multiple genres are permitted.

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Liebster Award

About Me

My route to writing children’s books has more twists and turns than a winding mountain road. I worked as a social worker and traveled many a winding road, uphill and down, around Hazard, Kentucky. Later, I became an elementary school teacher, and then a school librarian. After spending days introducing books to children, I spent nights writing books for them. At this point I have written over 30 picture books, one chapter book, and one middle grade novel. I have a master’s degree in Education from Morehead State University and a master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Kentucky. Home is still in Kentucky in the log cabin in which I grew up. My husband, Larry, and I share our cabin with two canine writer assistants, Jazi and Roxi.